The Age of Chivalry eBook

giving them a splendid retinue of young men, sons of
earls and barons, all mounted on the best horses,
with complete suits of choice armor. They numbered
in all seven hundred, but only nine had yet received
the order of knighthood; the rest were candidates
for that honor, and anxious to earn it by an early
encounter with the enemy. Gawain, the leader,
was a knight of wonderful strength; but what was most
remarkable about him was that his strength was greater
at certain hours of the day than at others. From
nine o’clock till noon his strength was doubled,
and so it was from three to evensong; for the rest
of the time it was less remarkable, though at all
times surpassing that of ordinary men.

After a march of three days they arrived in the vicinity
of London, where they expected to find Arthur and
his court, and very unexpectedly fell in with a large
convoy belonging to the enemy, consisting of numerous
carts and wagons, all loaded with provisions, and
escorted by three thousand men, who had been collecting
spoil from all the country round. A single charge
from Gawain’s impetuous cavalry was sufficient
to disperse the escort and recover the convoy, which
was instantly despatched to London. But before
long a body of seven thousand fresh soldiers advanced
to the attack of the five princes and their little
army. Gawain, singling out a chief named Choas,
of gigantic size, began the battle by splitting him
from the crown of the head to the breast. Galachin
encountered King Sanagran, who was also very huge,
and cut off his head. Agrivain and Gahariet also
performed prodigies of valor. Thus they kept
the great army of assailants at bay, though hard pressed,
till of a sudden they perceived a strong body of the
citizens advancing from London, where the convoy which
had been recovered by Gawain had arrived, and informed
the mayor and citizens of the danger of their deliverer.
The arrival of the Londoners soon decided the contest.
The enemy fled in all directions, and Gawain and his
friends, escorted by the grateful citizens, entered
London, and were received with acclamations.

CHAPTER V

Arthur (Continued)

After the great victory of Mount Badon, by which the
Saxons were for the time effectually put down, Arthur
turned his arms against the Scots and Picts, whom
he routed at Lake Lomond, and compelled to sue for
mercy. He then went to York to keep his Christmas,
and employed himself in restoring the Christian churches
which the Pagans had rifled and overthrown. The
following summer he conquered Ireland, and then made
a voyage with his fleet to Iceland, which he also
subdued. The kings of Gothland and of the Orkneys
came voluntarily and made their submission, promising
to pay tribute. Then he returned to Britain,
where, having established the kingdom, he dwelt twelve
years in peace.

During this time he invited over to him all persons
whatsoever that were famous for valor in foreign nations,
and augmented the number of his domestics, and introduced
such politeness into his court as people of the remotest
countries thought worthy of their imitation.
So that there was not a nobleman who thought himself
of any consideration unless his clothes and arms were
made in the same fashion as those of Arthur’s
knights.